The offences are alleged to have taken place at the Veilstone, Gatooma and Teignmead homes in Devon, run by Atlas Project Ltd.

All the homes were shut down in 2012 and the residents moved elsewhere.

The charges say seven victims were 'unlawfully and injuriously imprisoned' and detained against their will on 68 separate occasions.

Three victims are said to have been ill-treated by staff on five occasions while being treated 'for mental disorder as an in-patient'.

Exeter Magistrates' Court heard the alleged abuse occurred at the care homes, in north and south Devon, between December 31 2009 and January 1 2012.

All three homes, which cared for adults with learning disabilities, were closed in 2012 following inspections by the Care Quality Commission.

Two more workers have been summonsed to appear at the court next week to answer eight charges of false imprisonment and one of ill-treating a patient.

District Judge Stephen Nicholls committed the case to Exeter Crown Court where the defendants will next appear on November 21.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Inspector Steve White, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: 'This case is unique in terms of the number of suspects, the complex needs of the victims and the volume of investigation material.